Force measuring amusement device



Mach 1, 11938.

J. R. SACHER FORGE MEASURING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. 0455 JOHN Q5 March 1, 1938. J SACHER 2,109,551

FORCE MEASURING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,109,551 FORCE MEASURING AMUSEMENT DEVICE" I John R. Sacher, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to 111- ternational Mutoscope Reel 00. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 26, 1937, Serial No. 122,376 I 13 Claims. (01. 265-20) This invention has to do with amusement devices, and is concerned primarily with that type of machine which tests the human skill and power of a person in kicking a football, and

- registers the result of such test on suitable registering mechanism.

At the present time there are available to the public certain machines of this general character, by which certainphases of a persons physical skill and power may be tested and registered. For instance, there are those machines in which a person swings a hammer and'hits a pad which is associated with suitable registering mechanism. There are also those machines in which a person punches a bag with afist, and the force of the impact is suitably registered.

The present invention is along these general lines, but is concerned primarily with the kicking of a football by the person availing of the machine. The American public is, to-day, football minded, or football conscious, and this invention is made in appreciation of this trend, and with the belief that'many persons are desirous of testing their skill and ability in the kicking of a football.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, this invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of an amusement device-of the character above noted, in which a football is suitably positioned for kicking by a person, and with which is associated suitable apparatus for registering the force of impact of the personsfoot with the ball. o

In carrying out this broad objective, certain conditions arise which must be adequately taken care of in order to provide -a commercially practical and safe machine.

As is well known to those versed in the game of football, the type of kick most frequently used during the playing of a game is called the punt, and this kick is characterized by the fact that the kickers foot contacts the ball at a point ranging anywheres from one to two and one-halffeet ofi the ground.

Accordingly this invention has in view, as a somewhat moredetailed objective, the provision of a machine of the character described, in which the football when positioned for'kicking is disposed an appropriate distance above the surface on which the kicker is standing, to simulate the position of the ball when it is being punted.

In order for an amusement device of this character to meet with public approval, it is essential that the ball which is kicked actually be a football. Such a football is of a pointed oval formation, and there is an ever-present tendency for the foot of the kicker to slip off of either side of the ball, in the event the foot does not squarely meet the ball. Accordingly it is important from the safety angle that the ball be so positioned by the apparatus of the machine that there is nothing against which the kickersfoot might hit, in the event it slides off either side of the ball. In this manner likely injury to the kicker is avoided. i i f s In the kicking of a football underactual playingconditions, the kickers foot remains in contact with the hall during-,the pathv of. travel somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 to ZLinches, and duringthis period theforce of the kick is transferred from the kickers foot to the ball. Therefore, to the'end of closely simulating actual. kicking conditions in the playing of football, andalso to the end of. eliminating possible injury to the kicker, the present invention has in mind the provision of an amusement device of. this character in which the ball is held. inappro? priate positionfor kicking, and is free to move underthe influence of the kickers foot with little or no resistance for an amountfof travel corr'esponding to that time duringwhich a ball will actually be. in contact with the kickers foot,

when kicked under actual playingconditions The present invention has. in view,' as murther objective, the provision of suitable mechanism for resisting movement-of. the kickedball after the same has left the kickersioot'fand registering the'force necessary to resist the move-. ment. of the ball and bring thesanie to. a stop.-

In' carrying this detail out in a practical. embodiment this invention proposes availing of a shaft which is transversely mounted in the supporting framework of the machine, and which shaft has extending therefrom an arm which carries the football and disposes the same in proper position for being kicked by onetusing the machine. The shaft is freely rotatable for a predeterminedangular distance, after which certain friction'devices are brought into operation to resist further rotation of the shaft'and' ultimately bring this rotation to a-stop.-

Various other more detailed. and yet important objects of the invention. are associated with the. provision of suitable mechanism for carrying out these phases of the operationof the machine.

Another important object of the invention is to associate with these friction devices suitable locking instrumentalities for holding the football in aposition inaccessible to the. kicker. These lockinginstrumentalities are controlled way indicating the force of the kick.

by a suitable coin operated device, so that upon insertion of a coin the locking instrumentalities may be unlocked, whereby the football will be brought into the proper position in which it is kicked.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provision of an amusement device of the character above noted, including the shaft from which extends the arm carrying the football, and with which shaft is associated appropriate registering apparatus for registering the amount of rotation of said shaft; in this More in detail this invention has in view the inclusion of an audible signal, such as the ringing of a bell, for indicating when a desired maximum in the force of a kick has been obtained.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of spring means for causing movement of the football into accessible kicking position when the locking instrumentalities have been released. This means is preferably associated with the shaft from which extends the arm carrying the football.

Other more detailed objects and advantages which arise in connection with the carrying out of the above noted thoughts in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a coin controlled amusement device in which a football is normally held in an-inaccessible position within the machine, but which machine includes coin controlled mechanism which may be operated by the insertion of a coin to release the football, and bring the same into a position in which it may be kicked.

The football is carried by an arm extending from a shaft, and associated with this shaft are suitable locking instrumentalities, the operation of which is tied up with that of the coin controlled mechanism. Frictional devices for opposing rotation of the shaft for certain angular distances are also provided, while rotation of the shaft for a certain predetermined angular distance without opposition is also provided. The force of opposition to rotation of the shaft is rendered adjustable, and suitable instrumentalities are also associated with the shaft for registering the distance it has been rotated against the force of the frictional distance, and thereby register the force of the connection.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the f ollowing description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device made in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is a view taken from the side, with the main body structure of the machine shown in section, and bringing out the arrangement of the friction devices and locking instrumentalities associated therewith,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, taken from the opposite side, bringing out the operation of the registering mechanism,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed showing taken at right-angles to the showing of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is another detailed view of a part of the driving connections to the indicating dial,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed showing in section, bringing out one of the anchoring connections used to secure the football to its supporting spider,

Figure 'I is an enlarged detailed view of part of the friction and locking instrumentalities, and

Figure 8 is a View taken at right angles to the showing of Figure 7, and is a section taken about on the plane represented by the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, in Figure 1 the amusement device of this invention is shown as comprising a pair of side structures referred to generally by the reference characters l0 and II. Eachof the side structures it) and H have inclined edges designated l2 and I3 respectively, and which terminate at the upper end in short fiat edges 14 and I5. Connecting the lower portion of the side structures In and I! together is a lower panel 16, which is formed with a slot I! that is flared at the edge of the panel, as indicated at I8.

At the lower end the slot terminates in an enlarged opening l9. Each of the side walls 19 and H have upright edges 20 to which is secured an end structure designated 2|. A cross bar 22 is shown as extending between the top edges M and i5 and over the upper edge of the end structure 2|.

The side structure I l comprises a pair of spaced walls represented at 23 and 24 in Figure 1, and it is between the walls 23 and 24 that the coin con trol mechanism, friction devices and locking instrumentalities are positioned in a manner to be hereinafter described.

A shaft designated 25 extends between the side structures Hi and l l, and has appropriate bearing in these side structures. Extending radially outwardly from the shaft 25, and intermediate the ends thereof is an arm 26 which may be of a resilient or springy construction. This arm 26 is drivably carried by the shaft 25, and its outer end terminates in a spider construction referred to generally as 21. The spider construction 21 includes an end portion 28 of the arm 26, and a cross arm 29.

A football 30 of the usual pneumatic inflated type is shown as carried by the spider 21. Figure 6 develops in detail a connection which may be employed between the extremities of each of the arms 28 and 29 and the football 30. This connection comprises a cushion of soft rubber 3| which is interposed between the outer surface of the football 30 and the arm designated 29.

A pin 32 extends through aligned openings in the arm 29, pad 3| and casing of the football 30. This pin has an enlarged head, as represented at 33, which engages the arm 29, and at the other end a similarly enlarged head 34 engages a brass eyelet 35. It is evident that this connection permits of a certain amount of compressive action between the arm 29 and football 30.

The arm 26 is adapted to be swung downwardly into the slot 11, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the surface of the football engaging the edge of the opening l9. However, after being kicked, this football, as it is carried by the arm 26, is adapted to be swung down into an inaccessible position between the wall structures l0 and II.

Referring now more particularly to Figures '7 and 8 that portion of the shaft which is disposed between the walls 23 and 24 of the side structure H is shown as carrying a pair of disks 36 and 31, which are spaced apart, and which are keyed to the shaft 25, as represented at 38. The peripheral edge of the disk 36 is shown as provided with ratchet teeth designated 39. The disks 36 and 3'! are spaced apart, and interposed therebetween is a metallic plate 48 which is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft 25. The surfaces of the plate 45, which are adjacent to the disks 36 and 3'1, are provided with fibrous linings 4!, which are made from a suitable friction material comparable to a clutch facing, the purpose of this lining being to provide an appropriate amount of frictional resistance between the disks 36 and 37 and plate 40. The peripheral edge of the circular plate 48 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth indicated at 42.

The disk 3'! is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft 25, as indicated at 43, while the disk 36 is slidable along the shaft. A plurality of springs 44 are shown as engaging the disk 56 at their inner extremities to urge this disk against the frictional surface 4|. The outer extremities of the springs 44 bear against the retaining plate 45, which is anchored to the shaft 25, as indicated by the nut 45. It is evident that the nut 46 may be tightened to adjust the tension applied by the springs 44.

The disk carries on its outer flat surface a cam element 47, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A pivot pin designated 9 is carried by the wall 23, and pivotally mounted on this pivot pin is a bell crank 48, the lower arm 49 of which is formed as a pawl having a tooth 58 designed for cooperation with the ratchet teeth 39 on the disk 38. Also pivotally carried by the pivot pin 9 is a second pawl 5!, having a tooth at 52 which cooperates with the ratchet teeth 42 on the circular plate 40. This pawl 5| is provided with an offset portion 53 carrying a roller 54 which is designed to cooperate with the cam 47 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Pivotally connected to the upper arm of the bell crank 48, as represented at 55, is a link 56 which is in turn pivotally connected at 51 to a lever arm 58 carried by a stub shaft 59 that is mounted on the wall 23. Another link 68 is pivotally connected as shown at 6| to the other extremity of the lever arm 58, and its opposite end is formed with a slot 62 which receives a pin 53 that extends inwardly from the wall 23. A spring shown at 54 is anchored at one end to the link 58 and at its other end to the wall This spring 54 normally serves to urge the link 58 in a direction towards the right, speaking with reference to the showing of Figure 2. This movement will, of course, be limited by the pin and slot construction 62 and 63.

Extending radially outwardly from the stub shaft 59 is an arm 55 which is connected by a rod 55 with a coin controlled device represented in its entirety at 8?. It is evident that upon the rod 55 being urged downwardly, as by operation 0 the coin device 5?, the arm 55 will be urged in a direction causing rotation of the shaft 59 in a direction against the force of the spring 84. This movement will exert a pull on'the link 56, and cause rotation of the bell crank 48 to disengage the tooth 58 from the ratchet teeth 39.

At this point it is well to note that the construction of the coin control device 6! is not here described in detail. These devices are purchasable as such on the market, and include a slot 58 which is adapted to have a coin inserted therein to permit rotation of a handle 59. Upon turning the handle 69 the necessary force will be imparted to the rod 66, and the coin will pass down into a locked receptacle represented at 18. The coins in the receptacle 10 may be removed at desired intervals.

The side structure 10 also comprises a pair of spaced walls designated H and 12 the construction being similar to the structure of the side walls 23 and 24.

Referringnow more particularly to Figures 3, 4

and 5, the mechanism between the side walls I 78. This rack 78 slides in brackets 19 carried 2 by one wall of the end structure 2|.

At the-upper extremity the rack 18 engages a gear 88 which is carried by the shaft of an indicating dial represented at 8|. Associated with the dial 8| is a disk 82 which is held in a visible position, and'which is provided with suitable indicia. In the showing of Figure 3, the inner wall of the end'structure 2| has been omitted; this to more clearly bring out the arrangement of the various mechanisms. I A spirally coiled spring designated 83 is wound about the shaft 25 between the walls H and 12,

and one end of this spring is anchored to the bottom of the end structure l8, which is designated 84, the anchorage being indicated'at 85.

8i, which is operated by a lever arm 88; A cable 89 is connected at one end to the lever arm 88, and at its opposite end to the shaft 14'. After the shaft 74 has been rotated-a required distance to wind the cable 89 sufficiently thereabout, the lever 88 is pulled to trip'the" gong 81 and ring the bell 85. The operationof the above described mechanism may be briefly outlined by noting that with the football 38 and arm 26 in an inaccessible retracted position between the wall structure l8 and II it will be maintained in such position by engagement of the tooth 5-0 of the pawl 49 with the ratchet teeth 39. Upon an appropriate coin being inserted in the slot 68, and the handle 59 rotated, a downward push will be exerted on the rod 68 to correspondingly urge the arm 55 downwardly and rotate the stub shaft 59 in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement imparts a pull on the link 56 which is transmitted to the bell crank 48, whereupon the tooth 58 is moved out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 39.

The spring 83, will now be effective to rotate the shaft 25 in a counter-clockwise direction, and swin the arm 26 out into the slot ll until its downward movement is limited by engagement of the football 39 with the end of the opening 59. This outward swinging of the arm 26 has been caused by rotation of the shaft 25, and this rotation brings the cam 41 beneath the roller 54 so that the pawl 5| is held in a spaced position with the pawl tooth 52 above the ratchet teeth 42 of the circular plate 49.

After the handle 69 has been released the coin will fall down into the locked receptacle designated at 78, and the spring 64 actuates the various linkage to return the rod 66 to its upper position.

The person now kicks the football 30, and the latter travels in the are represented by the dotted line of Figure l. The first portion of such movement is substantially unopposed due to the fact that the disks 36 and 37, and the circular plate 40 will rotate as a unit, because the cam 41 maintains the pawl tooth 52 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 42. However, when the football reaches the dotted line position shown in Figure l the roller 54 will have ridden down off the cam 41, whereby the pawl tooth 52 falls down and engages the ratchet teeth 42.

The circular plate 40 is now held against rotation, and further movement of the football is opposed by the frictional resistance caused by the pressure of the disk 56 against the friction linings 4! After the force of the kick has been expended the football will be in an inaccessible position between the sides l and I I, and maintained in such position due to the engagement of the tooth 5!] of the pawl 31 with the ratchet teeth 39.

The rotation of the shaft 25 in a counterclockwise direction, as the football is moved outwardly into accessible position, will cause the indicating dial 8| to move into position corresponding with zero of the indicia on the disk 80. When the football is moved downwardly by the force of the kick, rotation of the shaft 25 is transmitted to the bevel gear 15 and I6 with the shaft 14, and thence to the rack 18 to cause turning of the dial 8|, and by the cooperation of this dial with the indicia on the disk 82 the force of the kick will be registered.

If the kick has been sufficiently strong to cause the necessary amount of rotation on the shaft 14, the latter will have wound the cable 89 a sufficient amount to cause a tripping of the gong 81, and a sounding of the audible signal. However, in the event this maximum is not reached, the audible signal will not sound.

It is important to note that there is absolutely no structure above the football which at any time might interfere or engage with the kickers foot or leg if the same slips off the football. This is highly important from the safety side of an amusement device of this character. Moreover, the fact that the path of movement of the football is substantially unopposed during the initial part of its travel is likewise important in preventing injury from initial impact of the foot with the ball.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that I am not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device of the character described comprising a shaft, an arm extending from said shaft, a football carried by said arm, and means associated with said shaft for resisting rotation thereof, said means including mechanism for rendering the same inoperable for a certain angular distance of rotation of the shaft.

2. In an amusement device of the character described, a supporting structure, a shaft journaled in said supporting structure, an arm extending from the shaft, a football carried by said arm and adapted to be placed in a position in which it may be kicked, and frictional devices for resisting rotation of said shaft, said frictional devices including mechanism for rendering the same inoperable for a predetermined angular distance of the shaft.

3. An amusement device of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a shaft journaled in said supporting structure, an arm extending radially outwardly from said shaft, a football carried by the extremity of said arm, there being a yieldable connection between said football and said arm, and frictional means for resisting a certain predetermined part of rotation of said shaft which may be caused incident to kicking of the football, said rotation of the shaft being initially unopposed.

4. An amusement device of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a shaft journaled in said supporting structure, an arm extending radially outwardly from said shaft, a spider construction at the extremity of said arm, said spider construction comprising crossed arms, and a football attached to the arms of said spider construction, there being a yielding connection between said football and the extremity of each arm of the spider, and means for resisting rotation of said shaft caused by kicking of the football.

5. An amusement device of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a cross shaft journaled in the supporting structure, an arm extending radially outwardly from said shaft, a football carried by the outer extremity of said arm, frictional devices associated with one end of said shaft for resisting rotation thereof, and locking instrumentalities included as a part of the friction mechanism.

6. An amusement device of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a cross shaft journaled in the supporting structure, an arm extending radially outwardly from said shaft, a football carried by the outer extremity of said arm, frictional devices associated with one end of said shaft for resisting rotation thereof, registering mechanism carried by the supporting structure in a visible position, and operating connections between said registering mechanism and the shaft whereby the amount of rotation of the shaft is registered on the registering mechanism.

'7. In an amusement device of the character described, a cross shaft, a football, operative connections between said football and the said shaft whereby movement of the football causes rotation of the shaft, a pair of spaced disks keyed to said shaft, a circular plate interposed between said disks and having a frictional surface adapted to engage one of said disks, means for yieldably urging one of said disks into engagement with said frictional surface, and means for holding said intermediate circular plate against rotation as the cross shaft is rotated, whereby rotation of the said cross shaft is resisted.

8. In an amusement device of the character described, a cross shaft, an arm extending from said cross shaft, a football carried by said arm, a pair of spaced disks keyed to said shaft, a circular plate interposed between said disks and having a frictional surface adapted to engage one of said disks, means for yieldably urging one of said disks into engagement with said frictional surface, the peripheral edge of said circular plate being provided with ratchet teeth, and a pawl associated with said ratchet teeth and adapted to engage therewith tohold the circular plate against rotation.

9. An amusement device of the character described comprising a pair of side structures having inclined edges extending substantially from the bottom to the top of said structures, a panel extending across the lower portion of said inclined edges, said panel being formed with a groove, a cross shaft journaled in said side structures and having an arm extending radially outwardly therefrom, and adapted to be swung into said groove, a football carried by the outer extremity of said arm, yieldable means associated with said cross shaft for rotating the same in a direction moving said arm into said groove, and means for resisting rotation of said shaft incident to kicking of the football.

10. An amusement device of the character described comprising a pair ofside structures having inclined edges extending substantially from the bottom to the top of said structures, a panel extending across the lower portion of said inclined edges, said panel being formed with a groove, a cross shaft journaled in said side structures and having an arm extending radially outwardly therefrom, and adapted to be swung into said groove, a football carried by the outer extremity of said arm, yieldable means associated with said cross shaft for rotating the same in a direction moving said arm into said groove, an end structure connecting said side structures, registering mechanism carried by said end structure in a visible position, operating connections between said registering mechanism and said cross shaft, and means for resisting rotation of said cross shaft incident to kicking of a football.

11. An amusement device of the character described comprising a pair of side structures having inclined edges extending substantially from the bottom to the top of said structures, a panel extending across the lower portion of said inclined edges, said panel being formed with a groove, a cross shaft journaled in said side structures and having an arm extending radially out wardly therefrom, and adapted to be swung into said groove, a football carried by the outer extremity of said arm, yieldable means associated with said cross shaft for rotating the same in a direction moving said arm into said groove, an end structure connecting said side structures, registering mechanism carried by said end structure in a visible position, operating connections 12. An amusement device of the character described comprising a pair of side structures each having a vertical edge, and an inclined edge ex-, tending from the bottom to the top of said side structure, an end structure connecting said vertical edges, and. a panel extending between the inclined edges at the lower portion of the side structures, said panel being cut away to provide a groove, a cross shaft journaled in said side structures and having an arm extending radially outwardly therefrom, a football carried at the extremity of said arm, said shaft being rotatable to move the arm in said groove and position the football against said panel, said shaft also being rotatable to move the football into an inaccessible position between said side structures; and means for resisting said last named movement.

13. An amusement device of the character described comprising a supporting structure having an inclined front face, said front face being formed with a groove, and an open space, a cross shaft journaled in said supporting structure and having an arm extending radially outwardly therefrom and into said groove, a football carried at the extremity of said arm and adapted to rest against said front face in a position in which it may be kicked, said shaft being rotatable to move the football through the open space into an inaccessible position in the supporting structure, yieldable means normally urging said football into accessible position, frictional means opposing rotation of said shaft which is caused incident to kicking of the football, locking instrumentalities for locking said shaft against movement bringing the football into accessible position, registering mechanism carried by the supporting structure in a visible position, and operating connections between said registering mechanism and said shaft.

JOHN R. SACHER; 

